Tips on Buying Amethyst Stud Earrings
Amethyst stud earrings are very popular gifts these days, largely because of the popularity of the stone itself. Amethysts are beautifully coloured from a pale lilac to a deep purple shade, and are also very attractively priced so that a lovely set of earrings using amethyst as the stone of choice is normally within the budget of most people.
However, the price can increase with density of colour, the type of metal used for the post and setting, and with the jeweller that makes it, so that amethyst stud earrings are available over a wide range of prices. This means that those on lower budgets can nevertheless offer their favourite person a set of earrings that looks expensive, even though it might not be.
That being understood, what tips are available to help you when you are buying amethyst stud earrings, and to make sure that not only you get value for the money you spend, but also that you purchase the most suitable gift for the special person you have in mind. For now, let us assume that you are purchasing a set of earrings for a young lady you are trying to impress, although the principles are relevant to anybody purchasing for either a male or a female recipient.
What to Look For
To most people, one amethyst looks pretty much the same as another apart from the colour. In fact, the deeper the colour, the higher the quality, and if you can see red flashes in the stone it could be particularly valuable. Good amethysts should have a high degree of clarity, but you should also see bands of colour when you look into the stone. Although fake amethysts are not common due to the relatively low value of the stone, they do occur, and one way to tell them is the lack of colour bands inside the stone.
The paler amethysts are often set in silver while the better quality deep purple amethysts are set in gold, when both the gold and the amethyst colours are accentuated by each other. The more expensive amethyst stud earrings will be set in gold and include diamonds in the setting. Amethyst stud earrings are frequently cut ‘en cabochon’, or round without facets, and can vary in size from 4 mm to 8 mm – any larger would be too large for stud earrings – and 6 mm is a good average.
Amethyst Stud Earring Ring Shapes
Although most traditional stud earrings are round, amethyst studs in particular come in a variety of shapes. Many are oval, while others are available as a cross, a heart or even a floral shape, often combined with diamonds to add even more beauty to the overall effect. A particularly attractive design has a diamond in the centre with purple amethyst ‘leaves’ radiating out in the shape of a flower, all within a gold or silver setting.
Choosing the Colour
You could choose the deepest colour you can find and afford, but far better is to try to find what other amethyst jewellery your girl owns. If you can steal a representative piece without her knowing, you can then match the earrings with her existing amethyst jewellery. She will love you all the more for being so considerate in taking this trouble to match the beautiful amethyst stud earrings with her amethyst necklace and bracelet.
Finally, most women have an outfit that perfectly suits an amethyst, and if you keep the above tips in mind there is no reason why you should not impress her tremendously with your knowledgeable choice of amethyst stud earrings. With or without diamonds!
